Has God blessed you financially? Do you live a life where you do not have to “worry” about money? Probably not! Or maybe?
“Then someone called from the crowd, “Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me.” Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?” Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own. “Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!” “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”(Luke 12:13-21:NLT)
In this parable, Jesus is warning the crowd against self-reliance. If God has blessed you with financial abundance, you could lose sight of trusting in God for your needs. Why? Because you can “handle” your needs yourself. If you reread the verses, you will read “I” many times. The man in the parable did not attribute the gain of his wealth as blessings from God. It was always what “he” would do. Never “If the Lord wills.”
I am sure that many of us are not in the same financial situation as the rich man in the parable. Still, it is important to remember no matter your situation; we should acknowledge the blessing of God in your life. We can do nothing without Him. “I” should not be in our vocabulary when it comes to the things we can accomplish in our lives.
This does not apply to our finances. Self- reliance can fall into other areas of our lives in which we think we have control. Whatever we accomplish in our life God is the giver. It is through Him we are what we are today.
“Lord, help me always to remember that it is you that helps me navigate life. You are responsible for my success. Please help me to be mindful of this every day. In Jesus’ name. Amen”
